Hi, I’m Dr. Susie Davies. I’m a GP and the mum of three teenagers.

Seven years ago, while working as a university GP, I began noticing that more and more of my students were struggling with their mental health—especially anxiety, low mood, self-harm, and low self-esteem. I observed that the students with the poorest mental health often had an unhealthy relationship with their devices. Constant notifications, social media pressure, and endless scrolling were leaving them overwhelmed and disconnected.

At the same time, at home, my 10-year-old daughter was asking for her first smartphone. I felt completely torn. I didn’t want her to feel left out, but I also couldn’t ignore what I was seeing in my clinic every day. When I spoke to other parents, I realised I wasn’t alone. We were all wrestling with the same questions—and we needed support. That’s why, in 2018, I founded PAPAYA (Parents Against Phone Addiction in Young Adults).

Papaya Talks is a space for families to feel empowered (not judged) when it comes to screen time and smartphones. We want to help spark vital conversations that support families in navigating the digital age with more confidence and less conflict.

Today, this topic is finally getting the prominence it deserves—thanks in part to the brilliant Smartphone Free Childhood campaign, which we’re now proud to be working with as their official talks provider.

Parents everywhere are waking up—not only to the risks of smartphones and social media, but to the fact that we really can change things if we work together.